Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(to fall from the pear tree) • This expression is used when somebody has a sudden realisation of a fact or a negative aspect of their reality.
"È caduto dal pero quando ha saputo del loro divorzio!"
"He's fallen from the pear tree when he heard about their divorce!"
Name USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
Troublemaker. Someone annoying, who is always objecting.
“Lui è proprio un piantagrane.” “Sì, odio lavorare con lui, crea solo problemi.”
“He really is a piantagrane.” “Yes, I hate working with him, he’s always causing problems.”
Interjection USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(for charity!) • Generally at the end of the sentence to stress that something is negative. Equivalent to "God forbid" or "hell no".
"Giovanna, ma ti piace Marco o no?" "Ma per carità!"
"Giovanna, do you or do you not like Marco?" "For God‘s sake, no!"
Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(at the end of the fair) • It means "after all".
"Beh, alla fin della fiera oggi non ho concluso nulla."
"Well, at the end of the fair today I accomplished nothing."
Interjection USED Frequently BY Everyone
(interj.) • Interjection to express emphasis, surprise, shock, anger, excitement, etc. It can mean anything depending on the context.
"Guarda come si è vestita sexy stasera." "Madonna!" "Si è mangiato tre kebab." "Madonna!"
"Look how sexy she's dressed tonight!" "Madonna!" "He has eaten 3 kebabs!" "Madonna!"
Italian
| Veneto dialects
Veneto,
Italy
Word USED Frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • Money with a general and vague meaning. It comes from an Austrian coin on top of which was written "Franc.", which was the abbreviation of "Francesco Giuseppe".
"I m'ha ciavà do franchi."
"They have stolen money from me."
Italian
| Veneto dialects
Veneto,
Italy
Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • (money ) • "Schei" comes from an old coin value, the Scheidemünze, used during the Lombardo-Veneto reign that was under Austrian hegemony.
"Son sensa schei." "Gh'eto du schei?"
"I have no money." "Do you have any money?"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(bye everyone, the pretty ones and the ugly ones) • It is a rhyme expression used to greet a group of people. It is similar to "See you later, alligator" but it can be used both when you arrive and when you leave.
"Io vado. Ciao a tutti, belli e brutti."
"I'll go. Bye everyone, the pretty ones and the ugly ones."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
Typically used when it rains a lot.
"Ragazzi, sta proprio piovendo a catinelle!"
"Guys, it’s really raining cats and dogs!"
Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(down in buckets) • It is a phrase used when it's pouring.
"È piovuto ieri notte?" "Sì, a seci roversi!"
"Did it rain last night?" "Yes, it came down in buckets!"
Submitted August 2020 by johnnybozz
Slang USED Frequently BY Young People
(v.) • (to stain) • To sweat.
"Fa così caldo che sto pezzando!"
"It’s so hot that I'm staining!"
Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(n.) • A pizza-based lunch or dinner organized with a group of friends in a restaurant, often to celebrate something.
"Chi viene alla pizzata di domani?"
"Who's coming to tomorrow's pizzata?"
Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(to be with the hands in the hands) • You use "stare con le mani in mano" to say that someone doesn't do anything when they're supposed to.
"Non stare con le mani in mano, aiutami a portare i piatti."
"Don't be with the hands in the hands, help me bring the dishes."
Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone
(water in mouth) • This is what you say when you want to tell someone to keep a secret.
"Lo sapevi che Gianna ha tradito Mario? Mi raccomando, acqua in bocca."
"Did you know that Gianna cheated on Mario? I beg of you, water in mouth."
la vita non è tutta rose e fiori
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Anyone
(life is not all roses and flowers) • It means that anything can happen to us in life, not only good things. Roses and flowers symbolise the good things.
"Sara, so che è un periodo difficile. Purtroppo la vita non è sempre rose e fiori!"
"Sara, I know it's a difficult time. Unfortunately, life is not always roses and flowers!"
Italian
| Tuscan
Tuscany,
Italy
la vita è come la scala del pollaio: corta e piena di merda
Expression USED Frequently BY Older Generations
(life is like the ladder to the hen-house: short and full of shit) • Used to say that life is short and difficult.
"Bimbo mio, abituati. La vita è come la scala del pollaio: corta e piena di merda."
"Sweet child, get used to it. Life is like the ladder to the hen-house: short and full of shit."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Adults
(brushing dolls' hair) • Doing something useless or unnecessary, wasting time.
"Vi volete mettere al lavoro? Non vi pago mica per pettinare le bambole!"
"Will you please start working? I don't pay you to brush dolls' hair!"
Interjection USED Frequently BY Everyone
(interj.) • (my mother!) • You say "mamma mia!" whenever you are surprised, scared, annoyed or happy.
"Sapevi che Anna ha sette figli?" "Mamma mia! Sono così tanti!"
"Did you know that Anna has seven children?" "My mother! They are so many!"
Italian
| Neapolitan
Naples,
Italy
Word USED Frequently BY Everyone
(adj.) • You use "sereticcio" to say that a food has lost its crispness.
"Questo biscotto è sereticcio."
"This biscuit is stale."
Submitted August 2020 by ottavio
Italian
Molise, Campania,
Italy
Idiom USED On Occasion BY Older Generations
(Who do you belong to?) • A question asked to understand who your parents or grandparents are. It's usually asked to young people, especially if they moved away or if they have not spent time in the local community. Often the easiest way to answer is using your family's last name, so that older people can easily recall who your relatives are.
"A chi appartieni?" "Ai Tramontana." "Ah, ma sei il figlio di Antonio!"
"Who do you belong to?" "To the Tramontanas." "Oh so you're Antonio's son!"
